Self-lubricating bullet and shot.



ITED STATES PATENT orrion.

SELF-LUBRICATING BULLET AND SHOT.

To all whom it may concern:

Birit known that I. Bi-m'r L. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and residing in Lowell, in the county of Middlcsex and (ommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Self-Lubricating Bullets and Shot, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sell-lubricating bullcts and shot.

Bullets are usually greased to facilitate their passage through the barrel of the fire-arm and to avoid leading the barrel. Originally, all bullets of fixed ammunition were greased on the outside of the bullet on the part projccting from the case or shell, and this practice still prevails with the smaller sizes of metallic ammunition, as sizes not exceeding .32 caliber and sometimes bullets of .45 and even .50 caliber are greased outside of the shell. In larger metallic ammunition the grease is sometimes placed on the part of the bullet within the shell. the

bullet being grooved circumlerentially to receive the grease. The use of grease as a lubrieator is objectionable becausedirt adheres to a. greased bullet and gets into the barrel of the tire-arm and interferes with the accuracy of the shooting and requires the barrel to be cleaned frequently.

Many, perhaps most hunters carry their cartridges loose in their pockets where the'cartridges accumulate lint and dirt. In the larger cartridges where the grease is Within the shell this objection does not apply with so much force .but the grease and powder, especially it black powder is used, foul the barrel and when these large shells are kept in a warm place or exposed tothe sun the grease frequently melts and runs into the powder, spoiling or diminishing the effect of the charge, so that the effective force of long kept metallic ammunition of the larger sizes cannot be relied upon. The grease frequently becomes ran Cid and fails .to lubricate the barrel properly. But under the most favorable conditions grease will not entirely prevent the leading of the barrel, and much difiicultyis sometimes experienced in removing the lead from the barrel which in some cases can only be done bya gunsmith or at the gunfactory. i 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed January 27,1904. Serial No. 190,333.

' Of course, shot (small balls or pellets of which a number are combined in one charge) cannot be lubricated, and lead the barrel, especially where small charges and high velocities are used. The combination of burnt grease with the burnt black powder greatly increases the danger of pitting the barrel.

Many attempts have been made and much expense has been incurred to avoid the necessity of greasing bullets. I dispense with grease on the bullets, avoid leading thefbarrel, secure a better lubrication, a cleaner cartridge and especially in the case of small ammunition, a more reliable cartridge, by incorporating in the bulletmetal or material a very small quantity of mercury.

I prefer to use about eighty parts of lead to one of metallic mercury, first melting the lead and then pouring the mercury into the melted lead. If desired there may be added to the above some hardening material as about two parts of antimony or three of tin, more or less, according to the hardness desired and the amount of the charge and velocity to be attained by the bullets.

From the composition above described bullets of any usual shape are made in the usual manner. Such bullets will be sufliciently lubricated by the contained mercury, which imparts to them a slippery feeling and keeps them bright and clean, because lint and dirt will not adhere to them. Such bullets will not lead the barrel from which they are fired, because any lead which may be removed from the bullet by the corners of the ritling is not soldered to the barrel, but is loose therein and may be removed by drawing a clean rag through the barrel or by washing.

I claim as my invention 1. A self'lubricating projectile, consisting of lead with a minute quantity of mercury incorporated therein.

2. A self-lubricating projectile, consisting of lead with a minute quantity of mercury and a hardening substance.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

BERT L. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses Annnn'r M. Moons, Roscon McDAm'm. 

